Cricket great warns Sam Konstas’ glaring flaw will be ‘exposed’

An Australian cricket great has warned teen sensation Sam Konstas a glaring flaw in his technique will be exposed by every team.

Australian cricket great Kerry O’Keeffe has warned Aussie opener Sam Konstas that India have worked out his major flaw and if he doesn’t address it fast it could derail his entire Test career.

Heading into his debut Test it was clear the 19-year-old struggles with inswing, but O’Keeffe believes the problem is far more serious than first feared.

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Despite being less than 18 months into his professional career, the ball moving in is something Konstat has failed to deal with time and time again.

At this year’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, the teen was repeatedly toppled by deliveries that nipped back into him, dismissed either bowled or LBW on six occasions in seven matches.

Sam Konstas impressed in his debut Test against India. Picture: Michael Klein

The one decent score he put up at that tournament also came when he was moved down the order where he didn’t have to face the new ball.

The delivery that nips in was again his undoing against India, dismissed LBW and then clean bowled in the fourth Test.

The glaring flaw in his batting technique had been exposed before the Test with India and Jasprit Bumrah – who boasts a plethora of lethal inswingers and off-cutters – exploited it perfectly at the MCG on Sunday.

After troubling Konstas early in the first innings, he and his fellow Indian paceman struggled to find the right line to deal with the teenager’s attacking style.

But by the second innings, Bumrah and co went in with a clear game plan.

After the opener failed to get hold of the premier pacer early, Bumrah continued to move the ball away from Konstas.

Before late in his spell, Bumrah nipped one back in and skittled his stumps.

Jasprit Bumrah zeroed in on Sam Konstas’ batting weakness in the first Test. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

It was yet another case of Konstas being unable to deal with the ball moving back in.

However, according to O’Keeffe the chink in Konstas’ armour was more so to do with his forward defence technique rather than failing to deal with inswing.

O’Keeffe fears it is a flaw that will be exposed time and time again, not just by India but all bowling units.

“The Indian tacticians have identified a problem with the forward defence of Sam Konstas,” O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.

“They’ve suddenly now picked up a flaw in his first Test that will go around the world.”

Both of Konstas’ dismissals in the Boxing Day Test arose from a forward defence, with the debutant beaten on the inside edge on both occasions.

“Sam’s front shoulder, he loses it completely and just plays with his hands,” O’Keeffe continued.

“He’s pushing his hands at the ball away from his body. The gap is created, and Bumrah went through it. He doesn’t need too many invitations.”

Sam Konstas has been urged to immediately address the flaw in his batting technique (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

A large part of that flaw is due to his unorthodox grip.

Konstas’ top hand is not only right up the top of the bat but it is also a long way around the handle.

This means when he pushes forward to defend there is a bigger gap present than what would be caused by a traditional grip.

After Konstas was badly exposed at the U19 World Cup, he tinkered with how he takes strike.

But it appears to fix the issue with his forward defence, a grip change may be what he needs to address.

Originally published as Cricket great warns Sam Konstas’ glaring flaw will be ‘exposed’